AthFest Educates is holding an online auction of a Gretsch electric guitar that will be signed by all the members of legendary Athens band, Widespread Panic. The fundraising effort aids the organization in giving grants to local educators to advance their art and music related initiatives for Athens area young people in kindergarten through eighth-grade.

The bidding is already underway at BiddingOwl.com and will go until the last day of AthFest, June 28th, at noon, when the winner will be announced.

The Gretsch Tennessee Rose electric guitar was built new in 2000 in the Gretsch Chet Atkins tradition and has been kept in the collection of the Gretsch Foundation ever since before it was generously donated by the Gretsch Foundation to help support AthFest Educates.

A collector hard cover book describing the Chet Atkins 2010-2011 Exhibition at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee is included along with a copy of the 2007 Chet Atkins-Gretsch guitar story and catalog for further reference to the tradition. A hard shell Gretsch guitar case is also included. The whole package (without signatures) has a $1700.00 retail value.Bids can be placed online here, or the guitar and bonus items can be bought now for $3000.00.The guitar can be shipped to the winner, should s/he not be present to win.

AthFest Educates advances high-quality music and arts education for local youth and the Athens community through direct support of school and community-based programs and events, including an annual music and arts festival.